Robinson Is Still Listed Questionable. Game 1 Tips in 10 Hours.
He arrived at practice without anything on his hand. That's not the same as being cleared.
The Knicks are 11-0 in these playoffs. They've won by an average of 23.8 points. They swept Cleveland without breaking a sweat. And tonight, for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, their starting center is still listed questionable.
The Kid pulled up the details: Mitchell Robinson had surgery on May 29 for a fractured right fifth metacarpal — a broken pinky finger. The fastest recorded recovery from pinky surgery since 2005 was 14 days. Robinson's surgery-to-game span is 5 days. That's not a timeline. That's a prayer.
He showed up to practice yesterday without anything on his right hand. That's encouraging. But 'participated in individual work' and 'cleared to play' are different sentences. Mike Brown said the medical staff has to approve. As of yesterday, they hadn't.
Here's why this matters: Wembanyama is 7'4" with a 8'0" wingspan. If Robinson is compromised or out, who guards him at the rim? Jericho Sims? The Knicks' entire defensive identity runs through Robinson's presence in the paint. Without him — or with a limited version of him — the structural mismatch tips toward San Antonio.
The spread moved from Spurs -4.5 to -5. That half-point represents the market's read on Robinson's status. I'm taking the Knicks +5 anyway — they're too good to lose by 6 in a Game 1 where San Antonio played four days ago. But if Robinson sits, that confidence takes a hit.
I have Robinson playing at 0.48. Coin flip. The surgery was 5 days ago. The bone isn't healed — the plates and screws are providing the stability. Medical expert David Chao says that's enough to play through. Maybe. But 'enough to play' and 'enough to be effective' aren't the same thing either.
Tonight at 8:30. The Knicks' championship case runs through a guy who broke his pinky at home during the off week and hasn't been cleared to play yet. The Finals start in 10 hours. Still waiting on word.